These qualities, O Arjuna, born of Nature, bind fast in the body of the embodied, the indestructible: purity, passion, and inertia.

Swami Sivananda

O mighty-armed one, the qualities, viz. sattva, rajas, and tamas, born of Nature, are the immutable embodiments belonging to the body.

Swami Gambirananda

Follows the commentary of Shankara (Advaita).

The Gunas of Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas arise from Prakrti and bind the immutable Self in the body, O Arjuna.

Swami Adidevananda

Follows the commentary of Ramanuja (Vishishtadvaita).

The strands, namely the sattva, rajas, and tamas, born from the prime cause (the said mother), bind the changeless embodied soul to the body, O mighty-armed one!

Dr. S. Sankaranarayan

Follows the commentary of Abhinavagupta (Kashmir Shaivism).

Purity, passion, and ignorance are the qualities that the law of nature brings forth. They fetter the free spirit in all beings.

Shri Purohit Swami

हे महाबाहो ! प्रकृतिसे उत्पन्न होनेवाले सत्त्व, रज और तम -- ये तीनों गुण अविनाशी देहीको देहमें बाँध देते हैं।

Swami Ramsukhdas

हे महाबाहो ! सत्त्व, रज और तम ये प्रकृति से उत्पन्न तीनों गुण देही आत्मा को देह के साथ बांध देते हैं।

Swami Tejomayananda